For many students, internships provide a first look at a future career. Oglethorpe student Maya Lane ’27, a film and media studies major, held a summer internship with the City of Doraville, where she found something even more meaningful: a pathway to continued professional growth.

As a career catalyst intern in Doraville’s Communications Department, Lane gained hands-on experience creating content that informed and engaged the community. Her responsibilities included developing social media content, drafting newsletters, photographing events, writing public-facing communications and supporting community engagement initiatives.

“A typical day involved reviewing upcoming city events, drafting posts or captions, updating the website, and working with staff to gather details for communications,” she said. “Every day was different, which made the experience exciting and hands-on.”

Lane quickly found ways to apply lessons learned at Oglethorpe.

“Oglethorpe prepared me through coursework in film, media and communications, as well as professors who encouraged creativity and professionalism,” she said. “My classes strengthened my writing, editing and storytelling skills, all of which were essential during this internship.”

The experience aligned closely with her long-term career goals in film, media production and communications. By creating content for real audiences and helping tell the stories of a growing community, Lane developed valuable professional skills while exploring the many possibilities within the communications field.

“I gained confidence, professional communication skills and hands-on experience creating content for a real audience,” she said. “What I enjoyed most was the supportive team environment and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that directly impact Doraville residents.”

The internship’s impact extended beyond the summer. Following her internship, Lane accepted a part-time role as communications specialist with the City of Doraville, continuing the work she began as an intern.

The transition from student to intern reflects the value of experiential learning and the opportunities available to students who apply their classroom knowledge in professional settings. For Lane, it was a strong foundation for a future career in communications while making an immediate impact in the community.